Visit of the President of the Czech Republic to Brussels and Bochum

2/19/2009
, Prague

The President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus will visit the European Parliament on19 February 2009 to deliver a speech at a formal sitting in relation with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The President will meet the European Parliament’s President Hans-Gert Pöttering, and at 11:00 a.m. will deliver a speech during a formal sitting of the European Parliament in Brussels. After that, a press conference will take place on the premises of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU.*) The President will take part in a lunch hosted by EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering, to which leading members of the European Parliament, leaders of political groups and Czech MEPs have been invited.

In the afternoon, the President will depart for the German city of Bochum, where he will be the keynote speaker at the „Herausforderung Zukunft“ forum. The President will also meet the Chairman of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert, and deliver a speech entitled „What does the present tell us about Europe’s future?“ Later, he will participate in a dinner hosted by the Mayor of Bochum Ottilie Scholz. The President will return to the Czech Republic in the Friday morning of20 February 2009.

*) Accreditation for the press conference by the President of the Czech Republic following his visit to the European Parliament (provisional start at 12:00):

Due to limited capacity, only accredited media will be allowed to participate in the press conference. Two rooms will be available: a briefing room and a listening room. Places in the briefing room will be granted on the basis of the order of accreditation requests. After the briefing room’s capacity is filled, accredited journalists will only be allowed to enter the listening room.

Deadline for accreditation was Monday 16 February at noon. At present, a limited number of seats is available only in the listening room. Should you be interested in last-minute accreditation to the listening room, please send a request to the e-mail address of Janka Chrkava at the Communication Unit of the Permanent Representation: janka_chrkava@mzv.cz. Any further questions should be directed to the telephone number +32 22139 189.

Due to security checks at the entrance to the briefing room, journalists need to arrive an hour in advance. Entry to the press conference will only be possible through the back entrance of the Czech Permanent Representation’s building. It is accessible from Clos du Parnasse, 1050 Ixelles.